The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
SPOOKY SWEET EARLY TREAT
Trunk-or-treat events bring Halloween festivities to children
Although the rainy, overcast day accompanied the county’s various trunk-or-treat festivities on Oct. 27, youngsters still showed up by the droves for some early Halloween fun, dressed as vampires, zombies, goblins and everything in between.
Haunted halls
For the Lorain Community Senior Center, 3361 Garfield Blvd. in Lorain, the trunk-n-treat event was a first for the organization.
“My grandkids and I thought this would be a great opportunity for the local kids here or even the family members to bring their grandchildren to something like this,” said Jeanne Stevens, the center’s secretary treasurer.
Stevens said attendance was “right on point” of what she expected.
The center’s volunteers manned the hall’s doorways and gave out candy to children of all ages.
Games and activities were held in the center’s gym, while coloring pages and cider were available for families in the main room.
Chips, hot dogs and pop were also provided free of charge
"We appreciate the kids and just giving them something to do."
— Tracey Payton-Johnson, event organizer
Lisa Duckett, 49, of Elyria heard about the event after attending the center’s bingo event the night before and decided to bring her great nephew, Jackson Doll, 3, of North
Ridgeville.
Doll said he was having fun at the event and like the candy and decorations.
“I’m impressed with (the event),” Duckett said.
A family affair
Although the G.O.A.L. Diggers Fundraising Committee’s second annual Trunk-Or-Treat event was
moved inside the Friendship Baptist Church, 2160 Reeves Ave. in Lorain, the committee’s founder and event’s organizer Tracey Payton-Johnson said the event’s first hour saw around 300 people.
“Lasy year, we had a lot of kids, but this year it looks like it’s double than it was last year,” PaytonJohnson said.
Car trunks were decked out with spooky decorations and various activities, from coloring to cornhole games kept the costumed youngsters busy.
Hot dogs, sloppy joes, chips and an assortment of goodies were also provided for attendees to snack on.
“It’s just giving back,” Payton-Johnson said. “We appreciate the kids and just giving them something to do.”
Cheryl Taylor’s niece and grandchildren attend the church and have made an appearance at the event for the past two years.
“It’s always packed and the kids have a good time,” said Taylor, of Lorain.